Gas weapon including cartridge case with plurality of gas containers therein

ABSTRACT

A gas powered weapon system comprised of a cartridge assembly which includes a deformable projectile and a gas pressurized container located in opposite ends of a cartridge case, with the case supporting a sharp edged piercing element located proximate to an outer surface of the container and adapted to puncture the container in response to the release of a spring biased piston located in a projectile launcher. Alternatively, the assembly may contain two radially spaced pressurized gas containers adapted to be simultaneously punctured in response to release of the piston. The projectile launcher includes a handle member which defines an outer housing for the releasable piston, a receiver for slidably inserting the cartridge assembly, and a barrel for directing the projectile in a desired trajectory.

United States Patent Curtis Aug. 20, 1974 GAS WEAPON INCLUDING CARTRIDGE3,710,720 1 1973 Mawhinney; 102 42 0 CASE WITH PLURALITY 0 GAS 3,728,8094/1973 Mulich et al. 42/1 F CONTAINERS THEREIN FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [75] Inventor; Herbert E, Curtis, Danville, Calif 20,89410/1891 Great Britain 102/42 C [73] Assignee: MB Associates, San Ramon,Calif. Primary Examiner Richard C Pinkham [22] Filed: Jan, 14, 1972Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer pp No: 217,903 Attorney, Agent, orFirmHarness, Dickey & Pierce [57] ABSTRACT U-S. Cl- R, E, A gas poweredweapon system comprised of a car- 273/DIG- 1 tridge assembly whichincludes a deformable projec- [51 [lilttile and a gas pressurizedcontainer located in opposite Field of Search 124/11 11 41; ends of acartridge case, with the case supporting a 273/106 102/42 46/74 102/42sharp edged piercing element located proximate to an C, outer surface ofthe container and adapted to puncture the container in response to therelease of a References Cited spring biased piston located in aprojectile launcher. UNITED STATES PATENTS Alternatively, the assemblymay contain two radially 279,539 6/1883 Chamberlain 102 493 SpacedPressurized gas containers adapted to be Simul- 2,37s,314 5 1945 M1113124 11 R teneeusly punctured in response to release of the pis-2,470,162 5/1949 Goehmann 102/493 X ton. The projectile launcherincludes a handle mem- 7,391 1/1957 her which defines an outer housingfor the releasable 3,067,730 12/1962 piston, a receiver for slidablyinserting the cartridge $533 232 3132; assembly, and a barrel fordirecting the projectile in a 3:209:694 10/1965 des1red tra ectory.3,369,609 2/1968 Fogelgren 124/11 R X 2 Claims, 12 Drawing FiguresBACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This disclosure pertainsgenerally to weapon systems, and more particularly to a high impact,non-lethal system for use by non-professional gun users, such as homeand business owners, to repel wound-be attackers, assailants, andinvaders.

The legal privilege of self-defense is limited generally to the use offorce which reasonably appears necessary for protection against athreatened interference of the person. While in certain instancesreasonable force may include the use of deadly weapons, such asfirearms, generally speaking, such useage is limited to those situationswherein the user has reason to believe that he is in similar seriousmortal danger, and that there is no other safe means of defense. Thus,the employment of a deadly weapon subjects the user to a substantiallegal risk that the employment of deadly force may subsequently bejudged unreasonable. Moreover, the use and possession of firearms oftenresults in serious or fatal accidents through misuse and mishandlingwhich further subjects the user to additional risks. The subjectinvention pertains to a weapon system for use in self-defensiveencounters which provides an alterna tive to frightening, dangerous, anddeath dealing firearms.

The subject system is comprised of a projectile launcher and gas poweredcartridge assembly insertable therein. The launcher is comprised of aselectively releasable spring loaded piston slidably located in a handlemember. The handle member is pivotably connected to one end of a barrelmember, the connecting end portion of the barrel defining a receiverwherein a cartridge assembly may be inserted.

The cartridge assembly is comprised of a cartridge case having adeformable projectile and one or more pressurized gas containersslidably disposed in opposite ends thereof. A sharp edged piercingelement is immovably supported within the case and directed towards anexterior surface of the container. The piercing element is adapted topuncture the case in response to displacement of the container byselective release of the piston, whereby the releasable pressure energyof the gas is utilized as a launching means for the projectile. It istherefore a general object of the subject invention to provide anon-chemical, gunpowderless, weapon system which includes a projectilelauncher operable to launch a projectile by the release of stored gaspressure energy.

Since the application of such a system may vary from target practice tothe actual firing of the projectile in combating the would-be assailant,it would be desirable to selectively control the range, speed, andimpact of the projectile. In the subject invention this is accomplishedby providing a single cartridge case usable with more than one sized gascontainer and also by providing another form of the cartridge casehaving means for receiving more than one gas pressurized container. Itistherefore another object of the subject invention to provide a gaspowered weapon system wherein the range, speed, and impact of theprojectile can be varied 2 by preselecting the cartridge assembly usedwith the launcher.

In another aspect of the invention it will be appreciated that when thepressurized container is punctured thereby releasing the pressurizedgas, a substantial amount of pressurized gas energy released can be lostdue to leakage between the passage supporting the gas container and thecontainer itself. In the subject invention various self-sealing meansare provided to effectively self-seal an end portion of the pressurizedcontainer against the passage of the case by utilizing a sealing forcegenerated by the pressure of the gas media. It is therefore a furtherobject of the subject invention to provide a self-sealing means for thecontainer so that substantially all of the pressurized gas energyreleased therefrom may be effectively utilized as the propellant for thelaunching of the projectile.

In still another aspect of the invention it is visualized that a fullyloaded projectile launcher may be inadvertently dropped of subjected toother conditions wherein the piston may be slightly displaced againstthe bias of the spring simulating to a slight extent the actual pistonmovement required to puncture the container. To circumvent the danger offiring the projectile under such a circumstance, the force of the springbiasing the piston has been selected to fully puncture the containeronly when released from its fully biased cocked position. Thus, slightwithdrawal and release of the piston member may achieve only slightpenetration of the container. Under this condition a gradual increase inpressure will displace the projectile from the barrel of the launcher atan exceedingly slow rate which provides a general failsafe feature. Itis therefore yet a further object of the subject invention to providefull puncturing of the gas pressurized container only in response torelease of the firing piston for a fully cocked position.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention wilbecome more apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apreferred projectile launcher of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same projectile launcher illustratedin FIG. 1, shown in the open position for insertion of an exemplarycartridge assembly;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a first preferred cartridge assembly of thesubject invention illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional elevation of the cartridge assemblyillustrated in FIG. 3 taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a second preferred cartridgeassembly having a volumetrically increased pressurized gas containerrelative to the assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third preferred cartridgeassembly having two pressurized gas containers;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional elevation of the cartridgeassembly illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the lines 77 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional elevation of the cartridgeassembly illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the lines 8-8 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the right end ofthe cartridge assembly shown in FIG. 4, illustrating a first form of asealing member;

FIG. 10 is another fragmentary sectional elevation, similar to FIG. 9,illustrating a second form of the sealing member;

FIG. 11 is another fragmentary sectional elevation, similar to FIGS. 7and 8, illustrating a third form of the sealing member; and

FIG. 12 is still another fragmentary sectional elevation, similar toFIGS. 7, 8, and 9, illustrating a fourth form of the sealing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now toFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the gas powered weapon system of thesubject invention is comprised of a projectile launcher, indicatedgenerally at 10,-and an exemplary cartridge assembly 12. The cartridgeassembly 12 includes an outer case 14 having an enlarged flange 16located at one end thereof, and a slightly radially enlarged portion 18disposed proximate to the flange 16. The length and diameter of the case14 conforms generally to a standard forty millimeter cartridge with theflange 16 and enlarged portion 18 being adapted for seating the case 14in the receiver of the launcher 10. Moreover, the case 14 forms an outerhousing for a gas pressurized container and a projectile member, andsupports a sharp edged piercing element for puncturing the pressurizedgas container as shall hereinafter be described in greater detail.

The projectile launcher 10 is preferably fabricated from a suitableplastic material, such as LEXAN, and is formed to resemble a policemansnightstick, having a longitudinal length of approximately 18 inches. Thelauncher 10 is comprised of a barrel member 20 and a handle assembly 22projecting forwardly and rearwardly from a hinged breech or receiverassembly 24. As used in this description, the terms forwardly andrearwardly shall respectively have reference to the right and left endsof the projectile launcher as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with theright end of the launcher 10 being directed down range when firing theprojectile. The bore at the rearward end of the barrel 20 is suitablycounterbored to receive the enlarged portion 18 of the case 14 with therearward face thereof being adapted to abut the flange 16 when seatingthe case 12. The bore of the barrel 20 further includes a plurality ofhelically spaced, axially extending rifling grooves 26 which function toimpart a gyrascopic trajectory to the projectile as will hereinafter beexplained in conjunction with the operation of the system.

The barrel member 20 and handle assembly 22 are rotatably connected bymeans of a hinged connecting collar 28, the collar 28 including a firsthalf sectional member 29 connected to the barrel 20, and having aring-shaped portion 30 providing encirclement therearound. A second halfsectional member 32 is connected to the handle assembly 22 and pivotallycon nected adjacent one axially extending edge thereof to the firstsection 29. For selectively rotating the handle assembly 22 relative tothe barrel 20 for insertion of the cartridge assembly 12 and thereafterfor fully locking the collar 28, a locking mechanism is provided at adiametrically opposite axially extending edge and includes a fingeroperable release pin 34. The precise details of the connecting collar28, hinge, and locking mechanism form no part of the subject invention,and may be of the type disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Application of StevenF. Mulich and James H. Sweeney entitled Projectile Launcher Baton," Ser.No. 77,526, filed Oct. 2, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,728,809 thatdisclosure being incorporated herein by reference.

The handle assembly 22 has a radially enlarged breech block 36 locatedat a forward end which is adapted to be connected to the second halfsection 32 by any suitable means such as screws, bolts or the like (notshown). The handle assembly 22 includes an axial passage 38 whichextends rearwardly from the breech block 36 and terminates proximate therearward end of the launcher 10. A piston 40 is slidably located in thepassage 38 and biased toward the forward end thereof by means of a coilspring member 42. An axially extending groove 44 extends radially fromthe passage 38 to the outer periphery of the handle 22, and includes acircumferentially extending cocking slot 46 located at the rearward endthereof and a loading slot 47 disposed slightly to the left of theterminal forward end 49. A radially extending operating knob 48 isthreadably connected to the piston 40 and extends through the groove 44to selectively position and locate the piston 40. As best seen in FIG.1, the terminal forward end 49 of the slot 44 is located slightly to theleft of the breech block 36 and functions as a stop to retain the piston40 in the passage 38, and moreover to define a preselected engageabledistance of the forward end of the piston 40 beyond the forward face ofthe breech block 36, with the loading slot 47 being adapted to locatethe piston in a position wherein the forward end is non-extendablethrough the breech block 36 and disposed slightly to the left of theforward face thereof. An integral, radially enlarged, circular shapedbutt portion 50 is disposed on the rearward end of the handle assembly22, the portion 50 being adapted to distribute the recoil load of thelauncher 10 during the firing sequence. Additionally, a radiallyenlarged guard ring 52 is spaced slightly to the left of the loadingslot 47 to define that portion of the handle surface suitable forplacement of the operators thumb or fingers to the left thereof, tonegate the possibility of the thumb and fingers being jammed through therecoil action of the operating knob as shall hereinafter be described inthe operation of the projectile launcher 10.

As indicated previously, the gas powered weapon system of the subjectinvention allows the system user to select the range, speed, and impactof the projectile. In the subject invention this is accomplished byproviding a small and a large pressurized gas bottle and also twodifferent types of cartridge cases, a first case adaptable to receiveeither a small or a large bottle, and a second case wherein two of thelarge bottles may be received. For purposes of clarity, the small andlarge bottle forms of the subject invention are hereinafter designatedlow energy" and medium energy, respectively, with the case utilizing twobottles being hereinafter designated high energy.

With reference first to a low energy cartridge assembly, and as bestseen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly includes a cartridge case or housing54. The case 54 is comprised of first and second cylindrical portions 56and 58 spaced on opposite ends of a cylindrical portion 60, the portion60 being of substantially less diameter than the portions 56 and 58. Thefirst cylindrical portion 56 includes an enlarged flange portion 62 anda slightly diametrically enlarge portion 64 relative to the diameter ofthe portion 56, the portion 56 and 62 being identical to the flange 16and enlarged portion 18 of the exemplary cartridge 12, shown in FIG. 2.The second cylindrical portion 58 is substantially axially elongatedrelative to the first cylindrical portion 56 and is of a suitablediameter to accommodate slidable insertion in the bore of the barrel 20.The cylindrical portion 60 includes a plurality of axially extendingguide ribs 66 circumferentially spaced about the outer periphery thereofto accommodate guiding of the cartridge assembly 54 into the receiverassembly 24 of the projectile launcher 10.

The cartridge case 54 includes a first axially extending cylindricalpassage 68 which extends substantially through the first cylindricalportion 56 and the cylindrical portion 60. The cylindrical passage 68opens into a second cylindrical passage 70, the second cylindricalpassage 70 being of substantially greater diameter than the cylindricalpassage 68 and defines a radially extending shoulder 72 therewith.Moreover, it will be seen that the right end of the cylindrical passage68 includes a stepped bore 74 which defines a radially extendingshoulder 76. The stepped bore 74 and radially extending shoulder 76 areadapted to receive and locate a piercing element support member 78.

As best observed in FIG. 8, the member 78 is of substantially triangularshape having arcuately extending side walls 80 which define a pluralityof oval openings 82 with the circumferential surface of the step bore74. The apex between all adjacent side walls 80 is arcuately formed inconformance with the diameter of the step bore 74 to be receivedtherein. The support member 78 may be connected to the step bore 74 byany suitable means such as preferably providing threads across each ofthe arcuately shaped apexes 84 to connectably mate with cooperatingthreads in the step bore 74.

A piercing element 86 is centrally located and supported by the supportmember 78 and includes an annular shaped blade portion 88, having aninclined rearwardly extending face 90, and a radially enlarged threadedportion 92 which is connected to a threaded aperture 94 disposed in thesupport member 78.

A relatively flat, disc-shaped gas check member 96, which functions as apiston in expelling a projectile 100, is slidably located in the secondcylindrical passage 70 and includes an annular shaped flange portion 98which abuts the radially extending shoulder 72. The projectile 100 isslidably located between the gas check 96 and a second gas check member102, the second gas check member 102 being identical to the gas check 96and preferably being circumferentially sealed in the passage 70 by anysuitable sealant. The projectile 100 is preferably comprised of arelatively flat, disc-shaped cloth container or bag having a pluralityof shot particles located therein and easily deformable for slidableinsertion into the passage 70. The projectile 100 can be of a typedisclosed in the co-pending patent application of Robert C. Mawhinney,Ser. No. 39,294, filed May 21, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,720entitled High Energy, Minimum Lethality Weapon System, which wasassigned to the assignee of the subject invention, and is incorporatedin this disclosure by reference.

A small gas bottle or container104 having a generally cylindricallyshaped mouth portion 106 is slidably located in the cylindrical passage68 and includes a circular wall portion 107 which is disposed proximatethe piercing element 86. The bottle 104 may be of the type used in homesoda water dispensers wherein a suitable pressurized gaseous media maybe stored. Various gases may be utilized in the gas bottle 104 such as,for example, carbon dioxide, air, and nitrogen. With respect to theoperating pressures of the gases stored within the bottle, carbondioxide has been utilized to pressures up to 800 p.s.i. g. and nitrogento pressures of 5,000 p.s.i.g. As best seen in FIG. 4, the bottle 104 isof an axial length substantially less than the axial length of thecylindrical passage 68. To suitably locate the wall portion 107 of thegas container proximate the piering element 86, a cylindrically shapedadapter memher 108 is slidably inserted in the left end of the passage68 so that its outer face is substantially flush with the outer rearwardface of the flange 62. The adapter 108 may be secured to the case 54 byany suitable means such as an adhesive tape or an easily torndisc-shaped paper sticker 110. As indicated previously, the cartridgeassembly illustrated in FIG. 4 is a low energy assembly relative to theother forms of the invention to be hereinafter described. It will benoted that the gas bottle 104 is of minimal axial dimension and providesan effective range to the projectile of approximately 25 feet. The rangeof the projectile 100 is predicated on a projectile velocity ofapproximately 100 miles per hour to insure a knock-down impacting forcein repeling an aggravation.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a medium energy cartridge assembly isillustrated utilizing an identical cartridge case 54. For purposes ofclarity, identical components and portions to that described inconjunction with FIG. 4 are designated by the same numeral having aprime suffix. The only difference between the medium energy cartridgeassembly and the low energy cartridge assembly resides in theutilization of a larger gas bottle 112 relative to the bottle 104, thebottle 112 storing an increased volume of pressurized gas. The gasbottle 112 is sufficiently elongated relative to the gas bottle 104 toextend fromthe rearward outer face of the flange 62 to the tip of thepiercing element 86' thus obviating the need for the cylindrical adapter108. Again, the gas bottle 112 is securely confined within thecylindrical passage 68' by a paper sticker 110'. It will be noted thatwhen the medium energy cartridge assembly is utilized with theprojectile launcher 10, that the release of the piston member 40 willreact directly upon the rearward surface of the gas bottle 112 asopposed to striking the adapter 108 in the low energy cartridgeassembly. It will further be noted that due to the increased volumetriccapacity of the gas bottle 112 that the range, speed, and impact ofthe'projectile 100' will be substantially increased.

With reference now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a high energy cartridge assembly isillustrated having a cartridge case 114 which is slightly elongatedrelative to the cartridge case 54 or 54', to accommodate the axiallength of a large size gas bottle 112" as well as a suitable adapter forsimultaneously displacing a pair of bottles as shall hereinafter becomeapparent. For purposes of clarity, identical components and portions areindicated by the same numeral utilized for the low and medium energyforms of the cartridge case illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively,and including a double prime suffix. The right endportion of thecartridge case 114 is identical to the second cylindrical portion 58 ofthe cartridge case 54 and includes a cylindrical passage 70' having apair of gas check members 96" and 102", respectively, located onopposite sides of a projectile member 100'. In the high energy form ofthe cartridge assembly, a pair of parallel, transversely spaced,cylindrical passages 116 and 118 extend from the left end of the case114 and open at an opposite inward end thereof into the cylindricalpassage 70". A pair of piercing element support members 78" arerespectively located at the right inward end of each of the passages 116and 118 and respectively support a pair of piercing elements 86". A pairof gas bottles 112" are respectively located in each of the passages 116 and 118 with the mouth portions 106 being located proximate thepiercing element 86". The left end of the cartridge case 114, as viewedin FIG. 6, includes a partial, centrally located blind bore 120 whichdefines diametrically opposite arcuate surfaces 122 and 124,respectively. As best observed in FIG. 7, the surfaces 122 and 124 areadapted to slidably receive a cylindrically shaped, adapter member 126which includes an outer face 128 which, when fully inserted in the bore120, is adapted to be substantially flush with the left transverse endof the case 114. The diameter of the adapter 126, and correspondinglythe blind bore 120, is selected so that the circumferential edge thereofcentrally contacts the rearward end of each of the gas bottles 1 12 sothat inward displacement of the adapter 126 will simultaneously displacethe gas bottles 112 and be punctured at essentially the same moment. Thehigh energy cartridge assembly 114 is operable in an identical mannerwith the low energy and medium energy cartridge assemblies, inwarddisplacement of the adapter 126 being adapted to drive the gas bottles112 against the piercing elements 86" to release the pressurized gas.

In all three forms of the cartridge assemblies hereinbefore described,it will be appreciated that when the pressurized container or containersis punctured thereby releasing the pressurized gas, a substantial amountof pressurized gas energy can be lost due to leakage towards the rear ofthe case, between the passages supporting the gas container and thecontainer itself. To efficiently utilize all of the pressurized gasenergy as a propellant for launching the projectile 100, various sealingmeans are provided and illustrated respectively in FIGS. 9 12. For thepurposes of description, the sealing means shall be described inconjunction with the low energy cartridge assembly illustrated in FIG.4, although it will be appreciated that the gas bottle 112 and 112" ofthe other embodiments are comparably sealed by one of the followingforms.

With reference now to FIG. 9, a flexible rolling diaphragm type of sealmember 130 is located at the right inward end of cylindrical passage 68proximate the piercing element support member 78. The member 130 iscomprised of an axially extending skirt portion 132 having an enlargedannular bead 134 at one end securely located in a suitable annulargroove 136 disposed in the passage 68. The opposite end of the skirtportion 132 is rolled, or folded over, to define an axially extendingaperture 138 for snugly receiving the mouth 106 of the gas bottle 104.The seal member 130 may be fabricated from any suitable flexiblematerial such as rubber or synthetic rubber to provide a diaphragm-likecharacteristic to the folded over portion. When the gas bottle 104 isdisplaced to the right due to the impact with the piston of theprojectile launcher 10, the rolled, or folded over portion functions asa diaphragm and is displaceable to the right in response to movement tothe bottle 104. When the bottle 104 is punctured by the piercing element86 the released pressure will act on the inner side of the folded overportion to urge the aperture to the left against the increasingperipheral diameter of the bottle proximate the mouth 106 and drivinglyassociate the axial portions against the mouth portion 106 and thecircumferential surface of the passage 66, respectively. Thus, it willbe seen that the member is self-sealing during such time as when thebottle 104 is punctured to retain the released pressurized gas betweenthe seal 130 and gas check and efficiently utilize the pressurized mediafor the launch of the projectile 100.

In FIG. 10, a second form of the seal member is indicated as an O-ring140. The O-ring 140 is nestingly located between the outer peripheralportion of the mouth 106 of the gas bottle 104 and the outercircumferential surface of the passage 68. Prior to puncturing thebottle 104, the pressure on opposite sides of the O- ring 140 will beequal and the seal will be frictionally held proximate the outerperipheral bottle surface. When the bottle 104 is urged to the right forpuncturing in response to release of the piston 40, the pressure in thepassage 68 on the right side of the O-ring 140 will be increased andreact against the right side of the O- ring urging it to a leftwardsealing position. Thus, it will again be seen that the O-ring 140 ischaracterized by self-sealing under the influence of the pressurizedgas.

In FIG. 11, another form of the sealing member is indicated at 142having a skirt portion 144 extending forwardly from a disc-shaped baseportion 146 which functions as a flexible flat diaphragm. The baseportion 146 has a centrally located aperture 148 of a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of the mouth 106 of the bottle 104to define a slight interference fit therewith. The member 142 isfabricated from a rubber compound or equivalent synthetic material whichpermits the base portion 146 to circumferentially flex or bend inresponse to movement of the bottle 104. Thus, when the bottle isdisplaced to the right for puncturing, the base portion 146 will becircumferentially flexed to the right and upon puncturing of the bottle104, the pressure energy will act on the inner annular surface of thebase portion 146 to maintain the sealing contact therebetween. It willbe noted that due to the increase in diameter of the bottle 104 on theleft side of the mouth portion 106, that the pressure energy releasedfrom the bottle 104 will tend to more fully seat the aperture 148 on theouter peripheral surface of the bottle whereby a tighter seal isaccomplished by increased pressure acting on the right side thereof.

In FIG. 12 another form of a sealing member is indicated at 150,comprised of a wedged-shaped annulus slidably located in the passage 68and having an inclined surface 152 tangentially seating on theperipheral surface to the left end of the mouth 106. The member is urgedto the left by a coil spring 154 located between the support member 78and the right face of the annulus 150. The spring tends to retain themember 150 is sealing contact with the bottle 104 during displacement ofthe bottle to the right in response to movement of the piston 40, andacts to supplement the released pressure energy of the bottle 104 inwedging the member 150 to form a pressure tight seal. Thus, it

will be appreciated that all four of the sealing embodiments areself-sealing due to a force provided by the pressurized media whichinsures that the releasable pressurized gas may be fully utilized forthe launching operation, regardless of the form of the seal selected.

To operate the projectile launcher with any of one of the low energy,medium energy, or high energy cartridge assemblies, the operating knob48 for the piston 40 is initially positioned in the loading slot 47which locates the right end of the piston 40 inwardly of the right faceof the breech 36 as viewed in FIG. 2. The release pin 34 is thendepressed and the handle 22 is pivotally rotated to provide access tothe receiver 24. The selected cartridge assembly 54, 54, or 114 is thenslidably inserted into the receiver 24 and the handle is pivotablycounter-rotated and locked to assume the position illustrated in FIG. l.The operating knob 48 is then repositioned to the cocking slot 46against the bias of the spring 42, and the system is ready for firing.The launcher barrel is directed towards a selected target with firingbeing accomplished by finger or thumb movement of the operating knob 48circumferentially from the cocking slot 46 to the axial groove 44wherein the spring 42 will drive the piston to the right. Upon impactwith the gas bottle 104 or 1.12, the bottle will be driven against thepiercing element 88 and puncturing of the bottle 104 will beaccomplished. Puncturing of the bottle 104 will release the pressurizedgas media which in turn will drive the bottle to the left, wherein itwill be self-sealed by any one of the forms of the sealing memberspreviously described. Concurrently the pressurized energy will act onthe left face of the gas check 96 driving the projectile 100 interposedbetween the gas checks 96 and 102 to the right. The rifling grooves 26of the barrel will impart a gyroscopic movement to the projectile 100 sothat when the projectile 100 is discharged from the barrel 20 it issubject to expand under the action of centrifugal force, the gyroscopicmotion displacing the shot particles radially outwardly against theouter circumferential surface of the deformable container. In thisexpanded position, the projectile 100 will deliver a knock-down blowagainst the selected target.

Because of the absence of gun powder, or detonation of variouschemicals, the system of the subject invention is not subjected to hightemperatures and therefore the majority of the components may beextruded, machined, or otherwise fabricated from plastics, andpreferably from a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin material such as,for example, LEXAN, a product of General Electric. This provides aneconomical as well as a sturdy lightweight system which may beconveniently carried and operated. It also will be noted that during thefiring sequence the operating knob 48 will be recoiled slightly to theleft due to pressure energy acting on the right end of the gas bottle.In this regard it will be noted that the enlarged ring 52 is adapted tosuitably locate the thumb and fingers of the hand of the operator in asuitable location to prevent jamming. It also will be noted that withthe exception of the gas bottles, all parts utilized in the system arereuseable which further increases the economy of the system.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for launching a projectile comprising: a cartridge caseadapted to support a projectile in one end thereof; means containingpressurized gas supported in an opposite end of said case, means forselectively releasing the pressurized gas has been from said gascontaining means whereby the energy of the pressurized fluid isutilizable to launch the projectile, said cartridge case having a firstlongitudinally extending passage for slidably receiving the projectile,a plurality of second, radially spaced, longitudinally extendingpassages interconnected with said first longitudinally extending passagefor slidably receiving said gas containing means, and said gascontaining means comprising a gas container slidably supported in eachof said second passages.

2. A gas powered weapon system comprising: a cartridge case having afirst longitudinally extending passage atone end and a plurality ofsecond longitudinally extending passages at an opposite end andinterconnected with said first passage; a projectile located in saidfirst passage; a pressurized gas container slidably located in each ofsaid second passages; and means for selectively releasing thepressurized gas from said container including a sharp edge elementsupported in each of said second passages proximate one end of saidcontainers, and force applying means slidably supported by said caseproximate an opposite end of said containers for simultaneouslydisplacing said containers to a puncturable position relative to saidsharp edged element, whereby the energy of the pressurized gas isutilized to launch said projectile.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION P t n N 3. 830,214Dated August 20, 1974 Inventor s) Herbert E. Curtis It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent 1 and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 11, "wound" should be --would--. Column 2, line 20, "of"should be --or--.

Column 5, line 36, before f'providing" insert by I Column 7, line 2,"70" should be --70"--, Column 8, line 64, "is"'shou1d be '-in--,

Column 9, line 27,1'88" should be --86--,

Claim 1, line 5, after "gas'f delete 'has been";

Claim 2, line 9, "edge"should be edged--,

Signed and sealed this llth. day of February 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

Y C. MARSHALL-DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer 1 v and Trademarks ORM PO-IOSO (10-69)

1. Apparatus for launching a projectile comprising: a cartridge caseadapted to support a projectile in one end thereof; means containingpressurized gas supported in an opposite end of said case, means forselectively releasing the pressurized gas has been from said gascontaining means whereby the energy of the pressurized fluid isutilizable to launch the projectile, said cartridge case having a firstlongitudinally extending passage for slidably receiving the projectile,a plurality of second, radially spaced, longitudinally extendingpassages interconnected with said first longitudinally extending passagefor slidably receiving said gas containing means, and said gascontaining means comprising a gas container slidably supported in eachof said second passages.
 2. A gas powered weapon system comprising: acartridge case having a first longitudinally extending passage at oneend and a plurality of second longitudinally extending passages at anopposite end and interconnected with said first passage; a projectilelocated in said first passage; a pressurized gas container slidablylocated in each of said second passages; and means for selectivelyreleasing the pressurized gas from said container including a sharp edgeelement supported in each of said second passages proximate one end ofsaid containers, and force applying means slidably supported by saidcase proximate an opposite end of said containers for simultaneouslydisplacing said containers to a puncturable position relative to saidsharp edged element, whereby the energy of the pressurized gas isutilized to launch said projectile.